Founded in 1987 by Daniel Johnson, the Texas Early Music Project is dedicated to preserving and advancing the art of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and early Classical music through performance, recordings, and educational outreach.

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Tax season: so fun, beautiful, and revelatory! The answer to life! Yep, working on taxes always puts me in such a calm and reflective mood, especially during Easter week, when church-singers pretty much live at their respective churches.

Also fun, beautiful, and revelatory: the Notre-Dame concert from late March. The guys did great (even when given a starting pitch that was a minor 3rd too high—way to use that technique, basses!) Many, many, many kudos and thanks to Dr. Rebecca Baltzer for her suggestions, guidance, and music transcriptions. We hope to revisit this rep soon. Or something similar. Machaut? Stay tuned!

But, you know, sometimes you just have to pause and take a look in the mirror and think calmly to yourself, "Holy moly! We're doing the Monteverdi Vespers in 3 weeks!!! Batten down the hatches! All hands on deck! Trim the mainsail! Find a can-opener!

As Schroeder exclaims, "Monteverdi is IT, clear and simple!" The Vespero della Beata Vergineof 1610 is amazing and monumental and I'm thrilled that TEMP is in a position to take on such a stupendous project! We have several distinguished guests joining the equally wonderful core group for this concert. Cornetti, sackbuts, strings, 3 theorbos, harp, organ, and more! And this will mark cornettist Douglas Kirk's (former Clearlight Waites and UT Early Music Ensemble director's) first concert with TEMP in a decade. Cornetti? What are they, you ask? Watch Meredith's informative and fun video about the cornetto!

Have I mentioned that it's gonna be a doozy to celebrate Monteverdi's 450th birthday? (He was born May 9, so we'll be a few days late...) This is the last doozy of the season and the wise concert goer should get tickets soon!

Read more about the Vespers below...with audio teasers....Holy moly!!-Danny

Monteverdi 1610

Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 7PM, with pre-concert lecture at 6PMSunday, May 14, 2017 at 3PM, with pre-concert lecture at 2PMBoth performances at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church7050 Village Center Drive, Austin, TX 78731

Admission $30 general; $25 seniors (60+); $5 students (at the door only)Tickets available in advance online or by cash, check, or credit card at the door.

TEMP rounds out its season of musical transition and innovation with the monumental Monteverdi Vespero della Beata Vergineof 1610 and it’s just in time to celebrate the composer's 450th birthday—May 9, 1567.

Claudio Monteverdi was a major power in the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque, and his Vespers of 1610 includes elements of both musical eras. The Vespers is a powerhouse of widely diverse styles from beginning to end, ranging from virtuosic solos and duets to exuberant double-choir pieces in a glorious fusion of late Renaissance and early Baroque styles. Enjoy these audio teasers from the Andrew Parrott/Taverner Consort recording: